Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-07-04
GREAT ENGINEERING.
Thirty Two Men move an Iron Bridge
Weighing 1000 Tons.
ST IOuIs Post DIspatah

st. Louis Post Dispatch.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, June 27.-TTC
thousand people saw wonderful achieve
ment of engineering skill at Holmesbura
junction of the New Y ork division OF the
Pennsylvania Road, Saturday. Thirty
two men moved distance OF fifty feet,
the iron bridge weighing 1000 tons tnat
spans the PeDnypack, and they accom-
plished the great task in the remarkable
tlmeiof eleven and g half minutes. The
engineers of the road had been long
making preparations for the work. Some
time ago the company decided to build a
four arched stone bridge in the place OF
the iron structure. The bridge
hid TO be moved west fifty
feet that il might be used till
the stone bridge is built and ready for
service. Six weeks ago the men began
the big undertaking with the building of
the trestle approaches to both sides of
the creek at the point where the iron
bridge was to find a new bed. The
tTestling had an average height of twenty
four feet, and is on line with the grade
of the old railroad. The timbers of the
western approach covered about 276 feet,
while the western approach is 800 feet
long. Piles were then driven in the mid
die OF the stream, on which was reared g
strong tTestlework fifty feet long and on
level with the ground, contiguous to the
stone pier under the bridge. Trestles of
the same length and height were then
built on both banks Of the creek, and in g
continuous line, stone abutments. These
timbers were TO serve both as the resting
place and as the carriage way over which
the twenty-fOur feet wide bridge was to
be moved to its new foundation. Two
new iron rails were laid along the wooden
pier in the stream ana two rails on either
side OF the abutments, and then the rails
were slipped under the center and both
ends of the bridge. A trial late that
afternoon showed that everything was in
good working order, ana it was
determined to move the bridge Satur-
day morning at IL O'Clock.
Long before that hour people began to
flock to the scene. An army of woikmen
appeared. Over 500 labOrers were mar
shaled on both sides of the bridge. while
four gangs Of carpenters were under it,
G. w Mershon, the master mechanic,
had charge of the removal. He placed
two men on each side OF the crab, max
iuE q lOANC VI LL4A1 " -ANO lllCE W lldu LlC
machines and the bridge. Old Billy Lair,
foreman of carpenters, was planted on
The pier. Foreman Kinney had charge of
the men at the eastern abutment, while
Master Mechanic Merchon directed affairs
from the western end. Every man was
IT his post, and the crest throng Of
people were waiting with eager interest,
when a wbiz of the fast train was heard
md the train Numbered over the bridge
seven minutes late. As it dashed away
superintendent Ford gave the word and
t was q scene OF transitOry animation as
hey tore up the rails and cut away the |
astenings of the bridge. The bridge was
10 sooner released than Mr.. Mershon |
gave the signal and the thirty-tWo men |
began 10 wind the "crabs." As the |
bridge began to slowly move, more men !
vent on it pouring oil on the tallow-
creased rails. Superintendent Craw- !
ord and other officers held |
watches in their hands as the big |
ron structure moved in toward the /
md of the trestling. At one time the |
eastern end began to lag, but it was only |
or few minutes; soon the bridge slid |
,yer the rails to its resting place without |
. mishap, while mighty cheer went up |
rom the people. With lightning like !
'apid:ty the gangs on both sides of the |
,reek tore up and laid down frogs, /
switches and moved the rails to the new |
Jed. They soon had the rails connected |
With two tracks on the bridge. Half az |
Jour after the bridge had been cut loose, /
! heavy construction train was run over |
he structure. At 12:19 the Philadelphia |
express dashed across. The work was a .
uCCess.